First time home buyer, need advice. (Austin, San Marcos: apartment, day care, how much)

[shane79]

Hello all, long time reader first time poster here. Please bear with my english I am still learning it

After living in Austin for 3 years I have decided to buy a house and here is my situation:

Commute: Working at intersection of I35 and ben-white, wife attends texas state sanmarcos and ride the school bus at slaughter lane/I35. I prefer to have less than 20 mins commute to work during peak time.

School: no kid yet, plan to have one soon, so elemental school /day care/kindergarden are of consideration.

Budget:350-450k, prefer a 2900sq+ house built within 10 years.

neighborhood: currently living around east riverside, I am dued for a change , NW/SW austin if my budget can get me there?

Realtor has shown me houses around 78759 (seems a little too far away, older houses), and SW (circle C alta mira, meridian, which seem to be also a little too far away). The closer in and fairly new houses around barton creek and westlake are out of my budget limit.

I have also seen a house for sell right behind the sunset valley strip malls (villas at sunset valley), a model home in a very convenient location, but no view, seemly bad neighborhood, and school district, also the list price is fairly high (460). I am torn between all the "ok but not exactly what i want" choices. Could anyone here give me some advices?

Thank you very much!

[Falcorockme]

I'd look in Villages of Western Oaks, south of William Cannon and north of Davis, between Mopac/1 and Ben White/ 290/71. You can jump on Ben White and be at the I-35/ Ben White intersection in no time. And your wife can get to San Marcos quickly

The thing is you could try to live more south/central but the schools are bad and the neighborhoods are questionable in terms of starting a family. The schools in Villages of Western Oaks are Patton/Small/Austin High which are very good.

I agree that Meridian and the southern parts of Circle C are too far south for you.

[atxcio]

I would prioritize your requirements, and start crossing off the ones at the bottom and see what happens. In particular, your desire to be somewhat close in AND get a house less than 10 years old kind may be limiting your options... which one is more important? How much longer will your wife be attending Texas State?

If you can accept 10-20 years old, you might look into something like Lost Creek (Eanes) or Travis Country (AISD). Both should be within your commute time to Ben White/I35. NW would be a rougher commute. I would avoid cross-town commuting, especially with today's gas prices.

[shane79]

Thank you all for the advice.

I guess I can live with 25-30 mins commute if that can get me newer home, I am really lazy when it comes to fix/upgrade houses ( i am not even keeping my apartment straight right now :P), I just assume there would be problems in older home that will require a lot of attentions.

My wife basically drives to slaughter lane/I35 intersection then takes bus from there. she has at least 2 years more of schooling to do.

[jenkirk]

You should look in the Heights at Loma Vista. It would be great for your commute and your wife's commute. Houses are usually only on the market for a few days, so if you find one jump fast!

There are two on the market right now that meet your budget!